Adjustable shelf molding



Sept. 5, 1939. L, HOPP v 2,112,282

ADJUSTABLE SHELF MOLDING Filed Nov. 19, 1958 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE SHELF MOLDING Leo Hopp, New York, N. Y.,' assignor to The Hopp Press Inc., New York, N.

New York 7 Y., a corporation of Application November 19, 1938, Serial No. 241,405

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in shelf moldings and more particularly it pertains to shelf moldings employed for displaying prices and other information of goods or commodities displayed upon the shelves of stores.

Shelf molding of the type referred to as generally constructed consist of relatively long strips of material along two opposite side edges of which ticket retaining flanges extend and are constructed from various materials. The particular type of molding with which this invention is concerned however, is that type constructed from relatively thin sheet metal.

Although the standard sheet metal moldings are rarely made in widths which exceed three inches, there are occasions when moldings of greater width are required and it is the production of moldings of a width greater than standard width, which as, above stated is approximately three inches, to which this invention more specifically pertains.

- Widths up to three to three and one-half inches are formed on power operated die machines and are extremely accurate in construction presenting ticket retaining flanges of substantially uniform conformation throughout and in such moldings, the tickets are freely placed behind and readily removable with relation to the ticket retaining flanges and yet are retained against acidental displacement from a set position.

However, mainly because of a relatively small demand for moldings of greater than three inch width, it is not practical to have power operated die machines to construct such moldings and it is the common practice of manufacturers of these articles to produce by devices known as hand brake, moldings of greater width than approximately three inches when occasion so demands.

Hand break bending, however, seldom results in accuracy and uniformity of width and generally speaking, because of these irregularities the price tickets slide freely producing confusion, or are unnecessarily bulged when placed in position.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a new and novel construction whereby the width of a standard die machine made molding, may be increased to any desired width without sacrifice of uniformity and eificiency.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel construction of shelf molding which will accommodate tickets of different widths in side by side relation, thus giving to the storekeeper a wider field of display of his goods and their prices. I

Other objects of the invention will appear as the nature thereof is better understood and reference will now be had to the following specifica- Figure 1 is a perspective view of standard shelf molding as generally constructed,

Figure 2 is a similar view of a separate molding element adapted for use in connection with a section of so-called standard molding in a manner to be hereinafter described, to increase the width dimension of the said standard molding,

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation illustrating the standard molding and the separate molding element combined to provide a molding having a greater width dimension than the standard molding per se,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a still further manner ofl use of the invention. I V

The standard molding is constructed from a relatively long strip of sheet metal and for the sake of clearer illustration, we will assume that said molding is of the greatest standard width, it being lmderstood that by standard width is meant the greatest width in which moldings of this character may be economically produced upon die machines.

By reference to Figure 1, it will be apparent that the so-called standard molding comprises a main body portion 8, which in the form herein shownis in the main, substantially flat. Extending longitudinally of each side of the main body portion 8, there is a ticket retaining flange l0. Extending parallel with each ticket retaining flange I0, and preferably formed by bending the 7 body portion, there is a bead 9. These beads 9 flex the tickets to produce tension therein, thereby producing sufficient friction between the tickets and the molding to retain the tickets against accidental displacement in the molding.

.So far as described, the molding is not new, it being of a conventional form manufactured in any desired lengths, but in standard widths by die machines not usually exceeding three to three and one-half inches, since, because of the relatively small demand for widths greater than those mentioned, it is not economical to install die forming machines for the manufacture of molding in widths greater than three to three and one-half inches. v a I In Figure 2 I have shown what I term a separate molding element which in itself is not a complete molding but which may be, employed in combination with a section of standard molding to increase the width thereof. Theseparate molding element maybe of any desired width but it-is. understood that its width would never be greater than can be economically formed on die machines which in most instances is, as above tion and claims and the accompanying drawing,

stated, approximately three to three and one-half a ticket retaining flange I6 extends; The ticket retaining flange I6 is of substantially thesame construction as are the ticket retaining flanges I heretofore describedand extending along the: body portion I in close proximity to and in parallelism with the ticket retaining flange I6, there is a bead I8 which functions in a manner similar to the heretofore describedbeads 9.

Extending along the'opposite side edge of the body portion I6, there is a reversely bent flange II which extends or projects rearwardly'of the body portion I5 as more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4. V

I will now describe the manner in which the separate molding element is combined with a length of so-called standard molding to increase the width dimension of the standard molding to a point where larger tickets may be employed therein.

When it is desired to increase the width of a length of standard molding, the standard molding is preferably placed in position and secured by nails, screws or'the like which are passed through openings 25 into holding engagement A with the shelf edge or other support herein designated 26, to which the molding is to be attached. With the standard molding in place, the

' separatemolding element is positioned'thereon with its rearwardly extending flange H in interlocking engegement with one 'of the ticket retaining flanges I0 of the section of, standard molding as indicated at 21 in Figure 4,. While I have herein'shown the separate molding ele- .26 by passing screws, nails or other fastenings through the openings 28 provided for this purpose. r

As illustrated in Figure 4, when the parts are combined in the manner described, the ticket retaining flange I6 of the separate molding ele- ,ment cooperatesjwith the lower-ticket retaining flange I0 of the section of standard molding to retain relatively larger tickets,'such as the ticket designated in the drawing, and the purpose,

namely, ofincreasing to' any desired dimension the width of the stanndard'section of molding is accomplished. Furthermore, the-construction of :the ticketretaining flanges III and I6 respectively of the standard molding and the separate molding element, and of the rearwardly extending or reversely bent flange I1 is such-that when -the two elements are combined, as shown, there willbe suflicient space between the rearwardly extending or reversely bent flange l'l. and the ticket retaining flange ID with :which .it is engaged tapermitof the free insertion of the adjacent edges of relatively smaller tickets M, as

designated by the reference character-32 inFigure 4. V a V o By this arrangement it will be apparent that the present invention provides a new and novel construction whereby free and easy insertion and removal of the tickets with respect to a ticket holding molding is obtained, since all of the parts are constructed in dimensions of width within the economic limitations of die machines for this purpose. Furthermore, the invention permits of the elements being formed upon die machines instead of on hand brake machines as heretofore'stated, thus insuring a uniformity in the relation of the price ticket holding flanges with the result that the tickets may be freely moved along the molding when engaged behind the ticket retaining flange, a result which is almost impossible of attainment in moldings formed upon are designated therein as 35, secured to one another. In carry-ing out this form of the invention one of the separate molding elements is interengaged with the standard molding element in the manner heretofore described, the remaining separate molding elements being interlocked together'by the engagement of the rearwardly extending or reversely bent flange I! of each with the ticket retaining flange I6 of the adjacent separate molding element. By this construction and use of the parts, a molding'can be provided, the width of which may be increased to any desired dimension.

While I have herein described the invention in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction and arrangement of parts herein shown, and that it may be practiced in other 4 forms which rightfully fall within the scope of the appended claims. V

Having thus described the invention what. is

claimed is:

1. A shelf molding of the type described eeniprising in combination, a main molding element including an elongated body portion, a ticket retaining flange extending along two opposite side edges of the body portion, anda separate molding element adapted for attachment to the main 'molding element with a portion thereof interlocking with one of the ticket retaining flanges thereof, and a ticket retaining flangeextending :alo'ngone edge of the separate element for cooperation with the other ticket retaining flange 1;,

of the main molding element to retain a ticket in overlying relation with respect to both molding elements.

.2, A Shelf molding of the type described comprising in combination, .a main molding element r" including an elongated body portion, a ticket retainingflanges of the main molding element to retain'a ticket in display position, and a reversely bent flange extending along the other edge of the separate molding element for interengagee 'ment with the other of the ticket retaining flanges. of the main molding element to secure the main molding element and the separate molding element together to form the shelf molding.

' LEO HOPP. 

